Karen Blixen | |
|---|---|
 Blixen in 1957 | |
| Born | Karen Christenze Dinesen 17 April 1885 Rungsted, Zealand, Denmark |
| Died | 7 September 1962 (aged 77) Rungsted, Zealand, Denmark |
| Pen name | Isak Dinesen, Tania Blixen |
| Occupation | Writer |
| Language | English, Danish |
| Notable works | Out of Africa, Seven Gothic Tales, Shadows on the Grass, Babette's Feast |
| Spouse | |
| Partner | Denys Finch Hatton |
| Relatives | Ellen Dahl (sister) Thomas Dinesen (brother) Andreas Nicolai Hansen (great-grandfather) Mary Westenholz (aunt) |
Baroness Karen Christenze von Blixen-Finecke (born Dinesen; 17 April 1885 – 7 September 1962) was a Danish author who wrote in Danish and English. She is also known under her pen names Isak Dinesen, used in English-speaking countries; Tania Blixen, used in German-speaking countries; Osceola, and Pierre Andrézel.
Blixen is best known for Out of Africa, an account of her life while in Kenya, and for one of her stories, Babette's Feast. Each has been adapted as films and each won Academy Awards. She is also noted, particularly in Denmark and the US, for her Seven Gothic Tales. Among her later stories are Winter's Tales (1942), Last Tales (1957), Anecdotes of Destiny (1958) and Ehrengard (1963).[1] The latter was adapted as a romantic comedy film Ehrengard: The Art of Seduction, directed by Bille August and in association with Netflix, which released it on streaming in late 2023.
Blixen was considered several times for the Nobel Prize in Literature, but did not receive it because judges were reportedly concerned about showing favoritism to Scandinavian writers, according to Danish reports.[2]
- ^ Norwich, J.J. (1985–1993). Oxford illustrated encyclopedia. Judge, Harry George., Toyne, Anthony. Oxford [England]: Oxford University Press. p. 49. ISBN 0-19-869129-7. OCLC 11814265.
- ^ Flood, Alison (February 2010). "'Reverse provincialism' denied Karen Blixen Nobel prize". The Guardian. Retrieved 25 February 2021.